Announcing PANAAWTM 2018 by Grace Yia-Hei Kao

As a faculty advisor and member of the local and steering committees, I’m excited to announce that the 33rd annual conference of PANAAWTM (Pacific, Asian, and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry) is fast approaching–April 12-14, 2018, to be exact.

In addition to those five workshops, conference participants can also elect to hear a series of graduate student papers, with topics ranging from sexuality, to black lives matter, to multiple religious belonging, to celebrity pastors in the Korean diaspora, to the digital space of the Progressive Asian American Christian Facebook group. I’ve long thought of PANAAWTM as a wonderful, nurturing space for graduate students to present their work, since our goal (as faculty advisors) is to provide them with opportunities for support and professional growth. In fact, in addition to those grad student paper sessions, we’re hosting separate seminars on Saturday, one for doctoral students, the other for early career folks.

Beyond those major programming elements, there’s much that makes PANAAWTM like no other conference. (See here for my reflections on my first PANAAWTM experience in 2012 and here for my reflections on PANAAWTM 2016).

There’s of course it’s small size–there’s usually about 50-70 conference goers in total, which gives the conference an intimate feel. There’s the all women-led liturgy and worship, which has historically been much more creative and social justice-oriented than what I typically experience in the churches or chapel. There’s the opportunity to delve into deep conversations with world-renowned theologians and Bible scholars, peers in various stages of professional development (i.e., fellow students, lay ministers or ordained clergy, professors, activists), and friends. Above all, for me it’s the sense of camaraderie that participants commonly report feeling, knowing that all attendees self-identify in many overlapping ways as fellow travelers.

If you are a woman or gender non-binary individual of Asian/Pacific Islander heritage who works in theology or ministry, broadly construed, might you consider joining us? It’s not too late to register. (Please note that our Thursday, April 12 evening panel is free and open to the general public, though the rest of the conference requires registration and is designed for API women with interests in theology or ministry).

If you are attending and we haven’t yet met, I especially look forward to getting to know you at the conference!